pressure to do so. >> reporter: so ix went straight to the government agency overseeing the companies. the consumer product safety commission. >> why not tell the smoke detector companies, make sure to get that photoelectric technology so you're covered completely. why not mandate it. >> because both technologies are working and saving lives. >> ix know several cases where people say it did not go off. >> in those cases, they need to practice a fire escape plan. >> but if the smoke detector didn't go off, and the house is full of smoke by the time it does, what does an escape plan do? >> it helps them escape better when the smoke alarm eventually goes off. >> reporter: but eventually isn't good enough for amanda deputy, who lost nearly everything. >> i would like to think that if i had known, that i might have a family of seven instead of a family of three. >> to be clear now, no one is saying you should throw out your smoke alarm. fire officials say the best advice is to have both technologies. you can even buy dual detectors that have both in one, but they're harder to find in store